Trump’s National Guard threat sparks backlash, Venezuela warships. Welcome to your SOFREP Morning Brief for Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela will send military vessels to the Caribbean Sea and other waters to combat drug trafficking, the country’s defense minister announced Tuesday. The move comes as tensions with the U.S. simmer over the deployment of three warships to the region.

Curazao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas said that U.S. warships deployed to the region are expected to arrive to the country over the next days as the Trump administration steps up pressure on Venezuela's

President calls for defense of borders in direct response to US naval presence, which Washington says is aimed at combating drug cartels - Anadolu Ajansı

The American destroyer USS Higgins simulated an expeditionary reload of a Standard Missile-2 last month.

Donald Trump has deployed three US warships to the waters off Venezuela to intercept drug cartel deliveries. Three Aegis guided-missile destroyers are expected to be deployed to the region as part of the US president’s effort to combat the drug gangs.

The U.S. Navy said distributed logistics capabilities allowed it to "strike from sea, move, reload, reposition, and strike again."

The U.S. is deploying 3 guided-missile destroyers to waters off Venezuela as part of President Trump's effort to combat threats from Latin American cartels.